Introducing cognition in the management of equipment in the future wireless world

A key topic in the field of future wireless B3G/4G networks is related to mechanisms for the efficient complementary use of the different technologies. The goal is to exploit the multiplicity of the available access standards to the benefit of end-users, operators and manufacturers. The concept of future wireless B3G/4G introduces the idea of diverse, heterogeneous Radio Access Technologies (RATs) able to converge into one composite radio environment, where the user is ldquoalways best connectedrdquo, while the most appropriate technology is selected and applied seamlessly. Cognitive and reconfigurable wireless networks have appeared as a complementary concept to B3G networks. Cognitive systems determine their behaviour, goals, principles, experience and knowledge, reactively or proactively and acting in response to external triggers. The focus of this paper is more on the end-user side. In this sense, the paper presents a Cognitive Terminal Management System (CTMS) that comprises mechanisms for retrieving and managing user information using concepts from Bayesian statistics. The use of Bayesian Networks for the prediction of future user preferences is also addressed in terms of appropriate modelling of the user profile.